The South Carolina football team is now bowl eligible following last weekend’s upset win over Southeastern Conference foe Auburn. The win was the Gamecocks’ sixth of the year and second straight in the series. It will be the program’s first postseason appearance since 2018.
Things looked bleak early on in the contest with the Tigers jumping out to a 14-0 lead. One thing that has remained constant with this team under Shane Beamer, though, is a never-give-up mentality.
The Gamecocks battled back to tie things up with two scores in the second quarter and the defense surrendered just three points in the second half to preserve the huge win.
The player of the game was once again ZaQuandre White, who’s quietly proving to be the offense’s best player. The ball carrier totaled 99 yards on the ground, another 69 through the air, and found the endzone on a 28-yard reception to get the Gamecocks on the scoreboard. This was White’s third game in a row with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
Other notable standouts were Kevin Harris (63 rush yards), Josh Vann (3 rec, 1 TD), and Brad Johnson (9 tkl, 0.5 sacks). Offensive lineman/fullback was also a major player, scoring a touchdown on his first career touch, a three-yard reception in the second quarter.
WATCH - We love a big man TOUCHDOWN!
— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) November 21, 2021
Jason Brown (@JasonBrown_QB ) finds Trai Jones for a TD nodding things up at 14 a piece!
Loved the reaction from @CoachSBeamer and the rest of the team! @WLTX #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/bmu1IQfYDQ
South Carolina football going bowling
With the win, the Gamecocks will find themselves in the postseason for the first time in three seasons. The program won just six games combined over its last two years but they’ve greatly exceeded national expectations in Shane Beamer’s inaugural campaign.
Sports Illustrated currently projects that South Carolina will face Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl while Athlon Sports and CBS both link the Gamecocks to the Birmingham Bowl.
The team has an opportunity to improve those bowl projections if they can pick up a win over Clemson this weekend.